Turning plans into results: that is the central focus of the fifth LIFE Science Conference, taking place on Tuesday, 22 September 2026 at Forum Groningen. The LIFE Cooperative will bring together professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers and policymakers from the life sciences and health sector around one key question: how do we translate vision into concrete impact? The keynote speaker will be Peter Wennink, former CEO of ASML and one of the most influential leaders in the Dutch technology sector. In 2025, he presented his advisory report ‘The Road to Future Prosperity’, in which he advocates targeted investments in innovation to strengthen the Netherlands’ long-term earning capacity.
Ronald Hesse, Director of the LIFE Cooperative: “With this five-year milestone, the LIFE Cooperative marks an important step in strengthening the life sciences and health sector in the Northern Netherlands. This year, we focus on a key shift in our sector: from vision to execution, from policy to economic growth. Plans and reports, such as our Industry Agenda, are essential, but they only create impact when we put them into action. Over the past ten years, we have demonstrated that collaboration works. Now it is time to scale that impact.”
Peter Ketelaar, Chair of the LIFE Cooperative, adds: “We are very pleased to welcome Peter Wennink as keynote speaker at this anniversary conference. Economic impact will be a central theme, closely aligned with the key message of his report.”
The LIFE Science Conference has grown into the leading meeting point for professionals from life sciences, health, medtech, government and academia. The event showcases regional strengths and stimulates new collaborations, with the aim of further strengthening the Northern Netherlands as an innovative health region.
As of today (4 May 2026), registration for the fifth edition of the LIFE Science Conference is open via www.lifescienceconference.nl.
The LIFE Cooperative is the Northern Netherlands partnership for life sciences and medical technology. It aims to strengthen regional innovation by fostering effective collaboration. The cooperative represents more than 60 companies — from startups and SMEs to international players — accounting for 4,750 FTE and a combined turnover of over €500 million. More information: www.lifecooperative.nl
During his farewell symposium on 29 October, Harro Meijer, Professor of Isotope Physics at the University of Groningen, was surprised with a Royal Honour. Meijer (Eindhoven, 1959), celebrating his 67th birthday that day, heads the Centre for Isotope Research (CIO) at the Faculty of Science & Engineering. He received the insignia associated with the rank of Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion from Mayor R.J. Kamminga of the municipality of Groningen.
De Rijksuniversiteit Groningen heeft het ontwerp voor het nieuwe Interfaculty Learning Center op Zernike Campus afgerond. Het gebouw combineert moderne onderwijsruimtes, gespecialiseerde labs en inspirerende studieplekken.
Fermentatieprocessen, van voedselproductie tot andere toepassingen, roepen vragen op die betrouwbare data en testen vereisen. Het bedrijf SG Papertronics, gevestigd op Campus Groningen, ontwikkelt platformtechnologie voor biochemische en analytische testen, met fermentatie als specialisme.
